[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Baghdad, Iraq - A third American has died as a result of a suicide attack on Iraqi oil facilities.

A Coast Guardsman died today and two Navy sailors were killed yesterday in the boat attacks off the Iraqi coast. The Coast Guardsman was part of a team sent to intercept a boat near an oil terminal. When the team approached, the boat exploded.

[sargunner]

Tonk,

During my tour in 67/68 in Nam as a zoomie SAR chopper crewmember I got to know a Coastie pilot named Jack Rittichier(sp?). His middle name was Columbus (you can imagine the grief he took over that one). At the time the AF could not provide enough pilots to keep the pipeline primed due to the high-than-expected casualty rate(the Anal Force called it an exchange program). He was in a sister squadron and therefore I never flew with him. He took all the well-meaning inter-service grief with grace. He was a hell of a pilot. He and his crew bought it in June 68 attempting a snatch that involved numerous attempts to extract a downed flyer who was on the move due to pursuing hostile forces. He was a good guy and a credit ot his service.

[Kathy in Alaska]

RIP Sailors

RIP Coastie